Cat urine outlet with white strip-like objects

There are several situations where a cat's urine outlet has white strip-like objects. Due to the structure of a female cat's urethra, when a female cat urinates, she tends to be closer to the cat litter, and the white particles might be cat litter particles that have accidentally stuck to the urethra. The white particles at the urethra are abnormal secretions of the urethra, such as crystals or stones of the urethra or bladder being excreted through the urethra. It is best to bring the cat to the hospital for a urine test to determine the components of the secretions.

Mucoid secretions at the urethral opening

When a cat has mucoid secretions at the urethral opening, it usually indicates a lower urinary tract infection, with the mucoid secretions being excreted along with the urine. The lower urinary tract consists of the bladder, urethra, and ureters. Common causes of lower urinary tract infections include bacterial infections due to hygiene issues, concurrent infections from adjacent organs, mechanical injuries caused by stones or crystals, and iatrogenic infections caused by procedures such as catheterization.

Redness and swelling at the urethral opening

Urinary tract infections, urinary tract stones, trauma, and other factors can cause inflammation of the urinary tract. Additionally, since the female cat's urethral opening is close to the vulva,owners may mistakenly believe that the redness and swelling are caused by a urinary tract infection during the estrus period, when the vagina has bloody secretions. Symptoms of urinary tract infections usually include decreased appetite, dysuria, abdominal pain, frequent urination, dribbling urine, hematuria, and others. During estrus, female cats may exhibit decreased appetite, restlessness, rolling around, bloody vaginal secretions, and a raised tail when touched around the hindquarters.

Cleaning and rinsing the urethra

Cleaning a cat's urethra first requires catheterization, which is recommended to be done by a veterinarian. If the procedure is not performed correctly, it can lead to urinary tract infections or bladder damage. For male cats, the catheter is inserted into the penis, and then physiological saline is injected to rinse the urethra. For female cats, the veterinarian needs to insert the catheter into the urethral opening slowly, then use a syringe to draw physiological saline and push it in while withdrawing the catheter, until the catheter reaches the bladder and the urine flows out.